VP Binay hopeful Taiwan will ensure safety of OFWs

May 20, 2013 10:51 pm

MANILA, May 20 — Vice President Jejomar C. Binay Monday said he hopes the Taiwanese government will take concrete measures to ensure the safety of Filipino workers in Taiwan in the wake of reports of assaults on OFWs.

He also urged authorities to take the appropriate legal action against Taiwanese nationals proven to have participated in the reported assaults.

In a letter to the head of the Taiwan Economic and Cultural Office (TECO) in the Philippines, Binay expressed his gratitude for President Ma Ying-jeou's assurance that OFWs would be protected from any form of harassment or discrimination.

They (OFWs) are there only to earn an honest living for their families and work harmoniously with the Taiwanese people. They should be spared from political conflicts, Binay, the Presidential Adviser on OFW Concerns, wrote Raymond Wang, representative of TECO.

Likewise, I trust that your government will make those who took part in the reported assaults accountable in a court of law, he added.

Given the strong ties between the Philippines and Taiwan, I am confident that our countries will be able to resolve our differences soon, he further said.

Tensions between the Philippines in Taiwan started when a Taiwanese fisherman was killed in an encounter between the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) and Taiwanese fishing boats that were fishing in waters within the Philippine Exclusive Economic Zone.

The death prompted outrage from Taiwan that escalated to some OFWs being attacked by locals. Some business establishments in Taiwan have also reportedly refused to serve Filipinos. Taiwan also imposed sanctions including the freeze-hiring of OFWs.

Binay earlier appealed to the Taiwanese government to lift the freeze-hire policy. (PNA)